Curling apparatus



-May 2, 1939- R. GRABNER 2,156,687

Y CURLING APPARATUS l 'Filed Nov. `14, 193e INVENTOR v Ro asm- QnAs NeePatented May 2, 1939 UNITED' STATES -PATENT .OFFICE CURLING APPARATUSRobert Grabner, New York, N. Y. Application No'vember 14, 1936, SerialNo. 110,909

v11 claims.. (ci. 132-36) The curling apparatus of this invention ismore particularly a curling accessory, which facilitates and improvesupon hair curling treatments by.

gases, such as air, hot air, steain, etc.

While different curling processes,7 e. g., Marcel Waving and permanentwaving, involve multi- -farious arrangement of the apparatus, they allmake use of animplement upon which the hair is wound in a. coil, suchimplement taking various l0 shapes, Vsuch as flat or semi-circularforms, or

cylinders or '.tubes. To this latter means, which hereinafter willl bereferred to, generally, as the curling implement, apply the improvementsof the instant invention, directly as well as collat- 15 erally.

To the'hair coiled upon the curling implement various processes areapplied in order to produce the desired curls, starting from thesimplest, a mere setting step, in accordance with which the hair'isallowed to remain upon the curling implement for a desirable period oftime, so that it assumes the helical array in a more or less temporaryfashion, to more complicated setting, fixing or baking steps, involvingfor instance the application of particular pressure, of steam, ofhumidity,` and/or of a plurality of treatment fluids.

When the hair mounted on the curling implement is to be subjected togaseous iiuids, the prior 30 art has commonly used helmets or bellsextending over the whole head, or casings which are applied to one ormore of the individual curling implements, thus enveloping the curlingimplement with the hair coiled thereupon with an at- 35 mospherle of thedesired gas, additional means being frequently provided for circulatingthe said atmosphere.

Such belts or casings are rigid, weighty and/or voluminous and thereforecumbersome; the at- 40 mosphere used for the treatment is not limited tothe hair to be treated only but also to portions I of the scalp, whichimpedes the free circulation of air around the scalp, causing undueheating of the scalp for instance; all of which renders the curlingprocess a torture for the patient, rather than a harmless and pleasanttreatment.

While curling implements are commonly perforate, or otherwisepervious,the atmosphere of the casing or belt surrounding the curling instrument,is by necessity primarily applied to the hair on the outside of the coilor hair on the implement, so that the atmospheric treatmentA is unevenlyapplied to the various layers of the coil, the innermost layers beingsometimes not treated at all.

The prime object of the instant invention is to overcome the aboveshortcomings, cumbersomenessand inefficiency of the prior art.

Basically, and by way of contrast with the general teachings of thepriorart, the treatment 5 fluids are introduced from an outside source to theinside of the curling implement, and act through the pervious wall orwalls of the implement upon the hair coiled thereupon. Furtherimprovements I' are a predetermined allocation of the curling iml0plement, providing, in respect to the scalp of the person to be treated,angular adjustment of the perviousness of the various sides of the wallof the curling implement, so that the fluids expelled through the wallof the implement are di- 15 verted from the scalp of the patient, andcircu-A late and filter in the desired manner and direction through thecoil of hair for an eiiicient treatment thereof.l

Otherand incidental objects of the instant in- 20 vention will beunderstood from the various exemplary apparatus described in thefollowing and illustrated in the drawing', in which:

Fig. l shows in elevation an assembly view, comprising a stand withfluid propelling'm'eans, 25 a manifold, a multiplicity of devices ofthis invention, and the curling element applied to the head of a person.

Fig. 2 shows ina corresponding detail view, a section of the parts ofimportance in this inven- 30 tion. v

Fig. 3 indicates a modification of the device of my invention in a.sectioned side View, in connection with a curling implement.

Fig. 4 is a bisected end view relating to the 35 modification of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows the cross-sectioned elevation of still another modificationof my invention, in connection with a suspended manifold.

Fig. 6 is a topview of the manifold used in 40 connection with themodification of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views:

The' gaseous heating means may be supplied from above in accordance withthe arrangements 45 of Figs. 5 and 6, or otherwise, as for instanceillustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the blower II may be adjusted by the setting means I2 at anypreferred height on the stand I3. The source of treatment lgas is con-50 nected to the blower intake I4. If airis to be used upon the hair,the intake I4 may merely be closed by a filter 10. If hot air iswanted,v I may arrange, within the knowledge of the prior art, anelectric heating element (switch I I some-` l over an evaporating'mm 1I,from which arises in boiler fashion when it is heated, say by ilame 1I.

In order to provide various fluids at various times or simultaneously Imay provide multiple v valves. Thus shutter 11 controlled by handle 12,

permits complementary admission oi', hot air and steam, or one may besupplied by the exclusion oi the other. Y

` Upon the outlet IS of blower i I is superimposed a riser It from whichextends a plurality of relatively angularly adjustable connectors I1.one of which is for instance shown to be connected with the curlingelement IlV applied to the head Il of the person to be treated. Thus theconnectors' i1 comprise elastic tubing 20, which is slipped over theleft end of the curling implement Il.

An angular, and at the same time angularly adjustable interconnectionbetween the flexible vtubes 2l of the connectors i1 and the riser I6 maybe brought about as follows:

A plurality of` collars 2| are rotatably joui'-V nalled upon. the riserI6, each one of said collars being provided upon the inside with acircular groover22. In alignment with each one of the groov 22 of thecollars, perforations 22 are provided in the riserii, so that the gas orair propelled upon the inside of the rise may enter upon the' groove 22,and may issue from there' upon .the' curling implement I8, when a valve2l 35 mounted uponeach collar 2l, which connects at the -other endof thetubing l1, is open.

Thus the valve 2l ofthe connector 2l attached to the'curling implementI8 upon the head Ii is shown to be open whereas the valves on all the40\ other connectors are shown to be closed.

.The tube of the curling implement Il should be pervious; for suchpurpose a plurality of openings or holes are shown along the wholecircum-V ference thereof. f

I may provide the customary clamp 2l, or a `similar clamping device, bywhich the free ends of the hair Yinitially clamped upon the curlingelement, beforevthe strands of hair are wound onto v Y the curlfnsimplement. The curling implement g. may also'comprise a clip. or someother fastenin g means, for .instance the elastic strap of the prior.art, by which the coilof hair isfin'ally retained upon the curlingimplement after it has been wound Vand tightened thereon. Such aanual-fastening means is not shown, and may notbenecessary,becauseI-maymakeuseofthecon nector l1 n'retain forprocess'ng the hair in its fully wound' position upon the coilingimplement Il. This would-presupposti that the hair is first Al0 woundonto the curling implement, with the connecting tube I1 detachedtheretrom;aiter the basbcenfullywomid onto the curling implement I0. theconnector I1 may be attached tooneoftheendsthereof.V f

f Il Inorder to prevent the gases-flowing out from the curling implementIt from striking the head ofthe person treated, hol 2i upon the sideturnedontothescslpoi'theusermaybeomitted.

orthecla'mpmayclosetheholcsuponthesaid both ends` of the curlingimplement I l. if the said implement is `open at both ends. The curlingimplement of Figui and 2 is shown however to 1| becfosed at one end by awall or bottom 21,-

sa to connectors I1 at 2,156,158? I i Y whereas to the open, other endthe connector is applied. Y

Whereas the curling implement of Figs. 1 and 2 is closed by la wall 21at its free end, the curling implements or tubes Il, of Figs. 3 and 4 lare open at both ends; but unless I introduce the treatment gas fromboth ends, it is desirable to close one of the ends so that the gas doesnot escape by way of the open end.

For this purpose-and also in order to cause 10 under certaincircumstances a better and/or preferred distribution of the gaseousagent delivered to the inside of the curling implement I8, bothendsofthe implement should be closed. for instance-by way of a rubbercollar Il at one end 1s and a rubber disc I2 at the other end. Thelatter disc 32 also serves to close the free end of the nozzle 3l, andfor that purpose it is attached by way oi a screw 33 to the nozzle.

The nozzle 30 is of course hollow, and should 20 be perforated in orderto admit the treating gas along its whole extent upon the inside of thecurling element from where it then passes through the wall of thecurling element ontovthe hair. VSuitable perforations in noa-ale ll areshown in the drawingby wayof a plurality of. longitudinal slits 24,which may of course be omitted, as shown,upon the side of thelconnectorturned toward the head or the scalp of the person to be treated, sothat'no hot air, steam or $0 gas is blown directly onto the head of theuser. when a curling implement is applied to a head l tion of thecurling element in relation to the head and more particularly thepositionof the connector I1 in relation to the head may be Preserved byproviding an-angular stem Il on the connector, which is always directedupward, whenthe connector is inserted from theA left into y the curlingimplement l2. 40

' Under these circumstances the treatment iluids may be supplied to'thecurling implements of Figs. 3 and 4 from the top, For that purpose I mayprovide a manifold for the treatmentdiuids overhead, similar to themanifold u which will behereinatter described in connection'wlthlligs.5and6,andatlexiblembingmay formpart of the connector I1providing an adjustable conduit extending down from theoverhead'supplymeam.

Sinceitisnotdesirabletoweighdownupontheheadoftheuserwit'hthecurlingimplemcnts, nor with-the connectors, theconnector l1 may also be individually adiusted in height ifwe provide'an elongatable. e. g.- telescoping connect# u ing' sleeve I1. In thecase of this modiilcation' a maletubc 28 extends down from the overheadmanifold and is slidably accommodated in Vthe outertubing-ll. a fixedrelative setting of the parts being obtained by the spring action at tben lower end Il of the male part Il, as we know it fromotber "telescope"application. x 'Ifnogaseousiluidistobedirectlydrivenontotheheadofthemerwemayorcourseaboomittheperforationsupononeslideofthecurlingelea maintenu-omitting tbe slitIl onone side or thenoaalell.Sincewehavenonosslellinconnectionwiththedeviceofl'kaiiandmtheperforationsmitbeomittedinthatinstanceupmone side of the curling implement |I,in case the 10 lfluid is not tolradiate onto the`scalpof-the patient.

-m the modification or rig. s' the assumes the Shave of a clamp, calledpliers herein,

`onearmotwhichisfor'lncilllvythe'gaseouscon-I 'u manipulating end 43.

duit 4|, the other arm being the lever 42, with a The arms 4| and 42 arefulcrumed upon each other at the stem 44 of a valve 45, which isaccommodated in a curve of the arm 4|. The whole device of thisconnector is preferably balanced so that it extends substantiallycentrally from the iiexible connection 4| of the connector l1 by way ofwhich it is connected to the manifold 41.

Spring 4 8 normally forces the arms 4I and 42 together, the ends of saidarms being provided with rubber plugs 49 and 5D, which engage as jawsupon opposite ends of the curling implement I8.

, Of course both arms of the clamp may be developed as conduitsdelivering uids for the treatment to both ends of the curling implement.But in this instance we have an opening in only one of the arms, arm 4|,which opens into the curling implement, except that by way of one ofsaid plugs the treatment fluid is omitted.

Since the shutter element 52 of the valve 45 is stationarily connectedwith the arm 42, the valve will be swung into a closed position undertension of spring 48, when the device is not applied and clamped overthe ends of thecurling implement. On the other hand, while the device isclamped over the ends of the curling implement, the valve is opened, sothat the treatment uid is automatically admitted to the curlingimplement.

Means suspending the device of Fig. 5 at a predetermined height, forinstance like means 31 of the modincation of Fig. 3 may of course beinterposed between the device of Fig. 5 and the 'overhead manifold 41.The overhead manifold 41 of Figs. 5 and 6 is exemplarily shown to beangularly arranged, with a spider shaped supply tube 58 connecting saidmanifold with a central supply or feed line 59.

The individual connectors|1 of the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 mayagain be swingably connected 'with the manifold 41, each one of thesleeve sections 60 of Figs. 5 and 6 being oscillatably journalled uponthe manifold is provided with a suitable groove, in analogy to, or, as aconverse of, the arrangement of the collar 2 of Figs. .l and 2.

An angu1ar,-e. g., T or L,-arrangement of the connector is usedthroughout, iirst, to facilitate adjustable positioning of the point ofconnection of the curling implement relativelyto a'supply Vmanifold andto reduce the weighting of the implement,-at and on the scalp,-to aminimum; second to give the operator freedom of view and space to work;third, to furnish bearings as to directing the blast of the gases, if sodesired.

Although I have shown and described one form of embodiment of myinvention in detail; yet I d o not wish to be limited thereby, except asthe state of the art and the appended claims may require, for it isobvious that various modifications and changes may be made in the formof embodiment of my invention, Without departing from the spirit andscope thereof.

said source, and a coupling for sealedly but readily detachablyconnecting said conduit with the open end of said implement. A

3. A curling apparatus comprising an endwise open tubular implement forcurling hair wound thereonto, said implement being substantially evenlyperforated on all but one side, a gas manifold, a connector conduitoscillatably extending from said manifold, and a coupling for sealedlybut readily detachably connecting said conduit with the open end of saidimplement.

4. A curling apparatus comprising an endwise open curling implementwith, said implement being substantially evenly perforated on all butone side, a gas manifold, a connector conduit swingably extending fromsaid manifold, an elongatable section in said conduit, and a couplingfor sealedly but readily detachably connecting said conduit with theopen end of said implement, sa'

elongatable section providing for lengthwise 0 adjustment betweenimplement and manifold.

5. Means for connecting an endwise open curling implement with a gasmanifold comprising a connector conduit swingably extending from saidmanifold for sealedly but readily detachably connecting said conduitwith the open end of'said implement, and a perforated hollow stemextending through said implement from s aid conduit, when said conduitand implement are interconvnected.

ving implement with a gas manifold comprising a connector conduitswingably extending from said manifold for sealedly but readilydetachably connecting'said conduit with the open end of said implement,a perforated hollow stem extending through said implement from/saidconduit, when said conduit and implement are rinterconnected, andclosing means at the free, far end of said stem engaging upon the insideof said implement.

8. As a connector for a curling implement, pliers adaptedk endwise toclamp said implement and to close one end thereof, and a conduit formingpart of said pliers and opening onto said implement at the end of saidimplement closed by said pliers.

9. As a connector for a curling implement, pliers adapted endwise toengage said implement and closing one end thereof, and a spring on saidpliers for clamping them in said engagement upon said implement.

10. As a connector for a curling implement, pliers adapted to be clampedendwise upon said implement and to close' one end thereof, and a conduitforming one of the arms of said pliers and opening onto said implementat the end of said implement closed by 'said pliers.

11. As a connector for a curling implement,` pliers adapted endwise toengage said implement and closing one end thereof, a conduit formingpart of said pliers and opening onto said implement at the end of saidimplement closed by said pliers, and a valve in said conduit actuated bymanipulation of saidpliers. y

ROBERT GRABN'ER.

